Retainer for drop wires



Feb. 26, 1952 w. N. TUCK 2,587,409

RETAINER FOR DROP WIRES Filed Feb. 14, 1950 2 SHEETSSl-IEET 1 Feb. 26,1952 w. N. TUCK RETAINER FOR DROP WIRES 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Feb. 14,1950 Patented Feb. 26, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2,587,409aE'rAiNEa FoRpRoP WIRES Walter Nl Tuck, stun; Boston, v ApplicationFebruary 14, 1950, Serial No. 144,067

' 4 Claims o1. ise tjs.)

' The following specification set out in detail improvements in aretainer for drop wires suitable for use in a loom.

When the warp-stop motion of the loom acts to arrest the weavingoperation'as the result of one or more warp threads breaking, the weavermust hunt for thedrop wire actuated by the broken warp thread and mendthe latter. In the course of this operation, the drop wires on each sideof the one which Was released, are moved apart in order to afiordsufficient space in Which to mend the broken thread. This displacementof the drop wires may'extend over considerable distance. Suchdisturbance of the wires and threads gives rise to irregularities in thesubsequent weaving.

After the warp thread has beenre stored to normal unbroken condition,the weaver is apt to ignore replacement of the drop wires in theirnorm-ally spaced arrangement. This results not only in imperfection inthe goods woven, but abnormal operation of the loom and excessive wearon the parts.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved retainer whichlimits the extent to which any group of drop wires may be moved in theoperation of mending a broken warp thread.

It is also an object of my invention to maintain the drop wires inproper vertical position and overcome any tendency toward rocking duringthe weaving operation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide mechanical agenciesthrough which the drop wires are restored to and maintained in properspaced arrangement by separate groups.

Other objects of my invention will be evident from the followingdescription of the preferred form as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation partly in vertical section, showing a portionof a loom equipped with the improved retainer for the drop wires;

Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing thenormal position of the retained drop wire assemblage;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retainer and Fig. 5 is a verticalsection on the line 55 of Fig. 4 showing one of the blades in theretainer.

Briefly described, my invention consists in suspending a rigid retainerin the form of a substantially planar grid or grating beneath thecrossrods and in the area occupied by the drop wires. This retainerseparates the drop wires into groups through the slot ll of the dropwire.

' slot ll.

7 2 of a limited number each. It also prevents accidental or intentionalextensive displacement of the drop wires out of the normalspacedarrangement.

Ihave shown the improved retainer as forming part of and cooperatingwith the usual loom. As part of the loom, I have shown on the drawingsthe cross rods 6. These cross rods support side panels I. The upperparts of the side panels 1 areconnected by meansof a series of contactbars 8.

Below the contact bars and in the plane of the cross rods 6, there isprovided a-series of separator bars 9. These bars are obliquely spacedfrom the contact bars as shown in Fig. 3.

A series of drop wires [0 is provided and each is carried loosely on acontact bar 8 which passes The warp threads l2 pass lengthwise over thecross rods 6 and separator bars 9. Each warp thread I2 passes through ahole 13 spaced below the slot I I in a drop wire It. The warp thread I2as usual, supports the drop wire so that contact bar 8 is maintained ina mid-position lengthwise of the It is of course understood that whenone "of the warp threads I2 is broken, the corresponding drop wire fallsto the extent permitted by the contact bar 8, and the magnetic circuitfor stopping the warp motion is actuated through means notillustrated.

The retainer proper is suspended from the cross rods 6 by a number ofcollars [4. Each collar has a depending threaded link l5. Set-screws Itserve to attach the collars It rigidly to the cross rods 6.

The retainer is in the form of a rectangular frame l1. At each cornerthis frame is drilled to receive one of the links 15. The frame is thenbolted to the links l5 by means of upper and lower nuts I8. As will benoted from Fig. 3, the frame I7 is held parallel to the warp threads l2and in the plane of the lower .ends of the drop wires Ill.

The frame 51 has a series of cross bars i9. Each of these bars isdisposed in a vertical plane with its upper edge chamfered to form abeveled edge as shown at 29 in Fig. 5. The bars l9 are spaced paralleland transversely of the frame a distance suflicient to accommodate arelatively small group of drop wires.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the drop wires are thus broken up into groupsbetween adjacent bars l9. In the example illustrated, 24 drop wiresconstitute a normal group.

During the normal operation of the warp motion, the drop wires mayfollow the movementsof the individual threads l2. However, any tendencyto rock or be displaced from the normal spacing, is prevented by theconsiderable number of cross bars 19. Thus the drop wires cannot becomecrowded beyond the position occupied by the nearest bar [9.

In the event of thread breakage, the affected drop wire falls and mustbe restored by the weaver. In this operation, the weaver has only alimited distance through which he may part the drop wires and separatethem for working on the broken thread. The cross bars 19 limit thisdisplacement and prevent disturbance of more than a limited number ofdrop wires.

After the thread has been mended or replaced, the weaver is expected torearrange the immediately adjacent drop wires so that their spacing willbe uniform. In the event that this is omitted or slighted, the positionof the adjacent cross bars will serve to bring the displaced drop wiresback into normal arrangement in a short period of normal operation. Itwill also prevent them from rocking from side to side.

The arrangement above described will improve the operation of the loomin several ways. The time and labor required for repair of the brokenthreads will be greatly reduced. Wave effects" due to displaced dropwires will be prevented. Irregular marking of the woven product is alsominimized.

I have shown and described the preferred form of the invention. However,it may be varied in numerous ways as to proportions and materialswithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. A retainer for drop wires comprising a substantially planar frame,upright links bolted at the frame corners, attaching means on the freeends of the links for dependent attachment to the frame of a loom, and aseries of spaced retaining elements extending transversely of the frameand in the same plane.

2. A retainer for drop wires comprising a substantially planar frame,upright links bolted at the frame corners, attaching means on the free"ends of the links for dependent attachment to the frame of a loom, anda series of parallel spaced bars extending transversely of the frame andin the same plane.

3. A retainer for drop wires comprising a substantially planar frame,upright links bolted at the frame corners, attaching means on the free-ends of the links for dependent attachment to the frame of a loom, anda series of spaced parallel vertically disposed edged blades extending,

P the free ends of the links for dependent attachment to the cross-rodsof the loom, and aseries of spaced retaining elements extendingtransversely of the frame and in the same plane.

WALTER N. TUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,409,427 Stimpson Mar. 14, 19221,693,776 Davis Dec. 4, 1928 1,760,967 Shutt June 3, 1930

